Brassiere



Aug. 19, 1952 L, SPARE 2,607,038

BRAssIERE Filed Nov. 27, 1948 s sheets-sheet 1 Aug. 19, 1952 L. SPARE2,607,038

BRASSIERE Filed Nov. 27, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 19, 1952 L. SPARE2,607,038

' BRASSIERE Filed Nov. 27, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patentecl Aug. 19, 1952UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE-' BRASSIERE Lola Spare, Pasadena, Calif.

Application November 27, 1948, Serial No. 62,312

8 Claims. 1 ,s

This invention relates to brassires or bust supports and particularly toimprovements in brassires of the type disclosed in my prior Patent No.2,067,354, issued January 12, 1937.

Brassires of the type shown anddescribed in my patent, referred toabove, are especially suitable for use in supporting the breasts ofwell` developed or heavy-breasted women. Such brassires comprise a pairof connected breast pockets or cups provided at their outer edges withstrips which, when the brassire is applied to use, extend around theback of the wearer and are releasably connected to retain the brassirein place encircling the wearer. Shoulder straps connected between eachbreast pocket and the outer or rearward endvof itsl strip sustain thebrassire to prevent it from slipping down. In addition, connectingstraps extend from the lower portion of each breast pocket or cup to thecorrespondingly opposite shoulder strap, the connecting straps being soarranged thatl the weight, or at least a portion of the weight, of eachbreast is eifectively supported from andby the opposite shoulder, meansbeing provided for adjusting the effective lengths of the connectingstraps so as to provide a comfortable t and guard against release of thebreasts from the pockets. It is also sometimes practiced in the art toconnect each 'of such connecting straps to the shoulder strap lof thesame breast pocket, instead of to that of the other breast pocket asdisclosed in my above patent, but this alternative practice is not asdesirable and does not provide the measure of comfort or supportprovided by the construction of my above patent. Y

- In brassires of the character discussed above, each of the breastpockets or cups is usually made from two or more pieces of cloth orother material havingtheir edges suitably joined, as by stitching, so asto form a cup of substantially pY-' ramidal shape. Each of theconnecting straps, mentioned above, comprises a substantially triangularpiece of the cloth material and its wider or base portion is sewed tothe breast pocket along a substantially vertical line extending from theapex of the pocket to the lower edge thereof. This line of stitching mayform a continuation or part of a seam extending from the upper edge,through the apex, to the lower edge of the pocket and serving to jointhe parts of the pocket together. It will be apparent that by this meansof assembling the several parts, a more or less bulky and unsightly seamis produced which tends to produce discomfort. Moreover, the provisionof the connecting strap as a separate element complicates thefabrication because it is necessary to insert and hold the end of theconnecting strap between the adjoining edges of the parts ofthe breastpocket during the sewing operation. Unless the connecting strap isdisposed at the proper angle, with respect to the vertical seam of thepocket or cup, the material of the pocket or that of the strap. itselfis apt to pucker or become folded, thus producing discomfort andimpairing the supporting or uplifting action for which the brassire isdesigned.

It is a primary object of this invention to obviate the disadvantages ofprevious brassires or breast supports, referred to above, by providing abrassire in which the breast pockets or cups are each composed of twopieces of cloth, or other material, the adjoining edges of which areadapted to be stitched to produce a vertical seam and a pocket of theusual pyramidal shape to conform to the breasts of the wearer. A relatedobject is to provide a brassire of the character referred to in whicheach component of the pocket has an integral, relatively narrowsupporting strap, the edges of the supporting straps of each componentybeing stitched together during the joining of the components so astoproduce a supporting strap of double thickness. By this im# provedconstruction, a strong andv durable supporting strap is provided and,since the number of parts is reduced, the fabrication of the bras# sireis greatly simplified and expedited.

vAlthough it is usual in the art to provide brassires with thesupporting straps encircling the outside cfa lower portion of thebreast-supporting pocket, I have discovered that straps with my presentnovel construction may optionally be disposed within the pocket,emerging therefrom through suitable slits or openings, and this is afurther object of the invention. This feature, for some weavers,substantially improves the bustsupporting characteristics of thebrassire, and in most cases improves the appearance of the brassire whenin use by a wearer.

As pointed out above, such conventional bras# sires are made up of anumber of pieces of fabric sewn together by seams, and such seams areunsightly, as Well as uncomfortable to the wearer. It is a furtherobject of this invention to provide an alternative embodiment of theinvention in which such seams are largely dispensed with, thus providingincreased comfort, better fit, better appearance, and greatly reducedcost of manufacture. I have discovered that the pocket and supportingstrap for such a brassire may be cut from a single piece of fabric,which greatly reduces the expense of manufacture, and this is anothel`object of the invention.

Further objects of the invention will be apparent from the followingdetailed description, and from the drawings, which are intended for thepurpose of illustration only, and in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the front of a preferred form of thepresent invention, showing it applied to a manikin or gure;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the two components of one of the breast pocketelements or cups employed in the brassire of Fig. l, illustrating themanner in which they are stitched together;

Fig. 3 isa front View of the assembled components of Fig. 2, showingthem opened out or expanded to provide a breast pocket of substantiallyconical shape.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but of an alternative form of theinvention;

Fig. 5 is a View showing a step in the forming of the pocket from theelements of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view taken from the direction of the arrow of Fig. 5,showing the cup expanded;

Figs. 7 and 8 show an alternative method of manufacture of the pocketshown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a view of a single piece of fabric cut so as to form anotherembodiment of the pocket ofthe invention; and

Fig. l is a View of the pocket of Fig. 9 assembled.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the brassire shown in Fig. 1 is ofthe same general type as the brassire disclosed in my patent, referredto previously, and therefore will not be described in great detail. Thebrassire 5 includes a pair of connected pocket elements E and 'i -whichare of generally conical shape to adapt them to enclose the breasts ofthe Woman wearer. Joined to the remote ends of the pocket elements 6 and'i are tapered strips 8 and 9 which are adapted to extendaround thesides and to-substantially meet at the back of the wearer, the ends ofthese strips having interengageable fastening means (not herein shown)for retaining the brassire in place surrounding the body. Shoulderstraps I and H have their ends respectively connected ltc the upperedges of the pocket elements-6 and 'I and the ends of the strips 8 and9, and `thus serve to support the brassire from the shouldersvof thewearer. In

the present brassire, as in -rny patented brassire, means are connectedbetween the lower mid-portion of each cup or pocket elements 6 and landthe shoulder straps I8 and il, such means serving to eifectivelysupport amajor portion of the weight of each breast. This means will bediscussed in more detail hereinafter.

In the present improved brassire, each of the pocket elements 6 andcomprises an inner component i5 and an outer component i6 which, whenjoined in a manner to be later explained, provide concavo-convex pocketsofA` pyramidal shape. The pocket elements 6 and l are similarconstruction except that they are of opposite hand, that is, the pocketelement 6 provides a support for the left breast while the other element'I provides a support for the right breast. The left-hand breastsupporting pocket element 6 is shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 3, by wayof example.

The inner component l5 of the pocket element 6 consists of a sheet ofcloth or other flexible material and is substantially pentagonal inshape, having converging upper edges Vi and i8, slightly converging sideedges i9 and 20 and a bottom edge 2i. Extending laterally from the edge28 of the element l5 is a substantially triangular strip 22, thelongitudinal edges of which converge in a direction away from the edge20.

The outer component i6 of the breast pocket element 6 is also ofsubstantially pentagonal shape, but is of somewhat larger area than thecomponent l5. The component I6 has converging upper edges 25 and 2S,slightly converging side edges 2 and 28 and a bottom edge 29. Thiscomponentalso has a strip'l projecting laterally from the edge 28 and ofa size and shape corresponding to the strip 22.

The components i5 and I6, which may be cut to any desired size,depending upon the size of the bust to which the brassire is to beapplied, are preferably joined in the manner next explained. Thecomponent i6 is placed upon a dat surface and the other component I5 issuperimposed thereon so that the upper edges I8 and 26, the sideredges20, 23 and the strips 22, 30 align as shown in Fig. 2. The components l5and I6 are then` joined by a sewing operation, the aligned edges of thesides and strips being first folded and'then stitched along these edges,as indicated at 30'. The seam thus produced at these edges may be ofeither the plain or French type having a single or a double row ofstitches. In addition, one or more rows of stitches 3l extendtransversely of the strips 22 and 30 at their base portions, thesestitches providing, in effect. a continuation of the side edges 22 and28. The edges il, I9, 2i, 25, 2 and 29 of the components i5 andy I8 maybehemmed in any suitable manner such, for example, as disclosed in mypatent, referred -to before.

It will be observed, by reference to Fig. 3, that after the twocomponents I5 and l5 have been joined in the manner explained above, andthen opened out, they cooperate to provide the breast pocket element 6.The intersection of the sea-med upper and side edges ofthe componentsprovides the apex 32 of a rounded cone which, when the brassire isapplied to use, overlies the apex of the breast. The strips 22 .and 30together provide a double thickness support strap, indicated by thereference character 33, which may be folded down toward the pocketelement 6 as shown in Fig. 3. The forward orfront end of the strip 8 issewed to the edge 2'! of the component S and the forward end of theshoulder strap Il) is likewise secured to the upper pointed end of thecomponent as shown.

Y The pocket elements 5 and 6 are substantially alike except that one ismade right-hand while the other is made left-hand. They right andlefthand pocket elements 5 and E are joined by placing their side edgesi9 together and sewing them in-either a plain or French seam, indicatedat 34 in Fig. 1.

As indicated previously, the sup-porting strap 33 of each pocket element5 or 6 is adapted to be attached preferably to the shoulder strap I8 orH which is joined to the opposite pocket element so that the supportingstraps cross each other, as shown in Fig. 1. By this arrangement, eachbreast is supported to a large extent by the shoulder strap disposedremote therefrom, the result being that each breast is drawn inwardlyand upwardly with what is termed an uplif action. yThis extent of thisuplift effect can be adjusted by means to be next described.

Each supporting strap 33 is provided with a narrow extension 35 in theform of a tape. Which has an end sewed to the rearward side of thestrap. 1 Each'ta'p'e 35V looped and its free end is-adjustably'heldin' a'buckle A36 attached to the forward side'of th strap' 33.` The loop 35carries fa hookl elementl31-which is adapted to pass through an openingin a c'onnecting'element 38 carriediby'the' shoulder strap'to whichtheparticularsupportingv strap is to be attached. By -adfju'stingthe'length of the tape loops 35, the

supporting strapsA can be readily tightened or loosened atthe willof thewearer so as to provide a comfortable nt-.and adequate support whiley'preve'ntingi'injury tothe breasts. It will be apparent'thatotherfwell-known types ofconnecti'ng or fastening devices vmight besubstituted for v'the'.elements 35, 31 and 38 and consequently theinvention is" not to be limited in this respect. It is also vto be'notedthat instead ofthe ends 35 of the straps 33 being connected to theshoulder straps of the opposite pocket elements, they may be connectedtdtheir own pocket element if desired. Thus, the supporting strap 33 ofthe pocket element 1 can be connectedto the buckle v36 of the pocketlelement 1, and, similarly, the

supporting strap of the pocket element 6 can be connected -to the buckleof thepocket element 6. In such alternative assembly, it may bedesirable to form the supporting strap 33 of each pocket element so asto be slightly curved upwardly,1 as seen in Fig. 2, more closely conformto the contour of the pocket element when it is cupped as shown in Fig.3.

"'It will'be observed from the foregoing that the present inventionprovides an improved brassire'or bust support'which is particularlyadapted for use in supporting the breasts of Well developed' orheavy-breasted women. The present brassirediifers from brassires ofconventional type in that it is provided with supporting straps` which,by their construction and arrangenient-, v serve as a means forsupporting each breast fromthe opposite shoulder of thel wearer. As aparticular feature of improvement, each supporting strap is formedintegral with one of v the breast pocket elements so that the usualoperation of joining the supporting straps to their breast pocketelements is dispensed with and the making of the brassire is greatlysimplified and expedited with the result that its cost is substantiallyreduced.

Referring to the alternative embodiment shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, Ishow a pocket element 40 which, as will be seen from Fig. 2, issubstantially identical with the pocket element 6. The pocket element 4DYis provided with a component 4|, similar to the component l5, which hasa slit 43 therein, and is provided with a supporting strap 44, similarto the supporting strap 33. In fabrication, the outer end 0f thesupporting strap 44 is slipped through the slit 43, and the entirepocket element 40 is then turned inside out to the shape illustrated inFig. 5, and is then cup-shaped to the form shown in Fig. 6. This turnsthe stitching 45, which is Similar to the stitching 30', to the insideof the pocket element, leaving a smooth seam on the outside, whichsubstantially improves the appearance. Also, this reversal of the pocketelement 40 turns the supporting strap 44 to the inside of the pocketelement which further improves the appearance, and, in some cases,provides additional support to the wearer.

An alternative method of fabrication is shown in Figs. 7 and 8, inwhicha pocket element 41, substantially the same as the pocket element40, is provided, and stitched at 48. 'Ihe stitching is not carriedacross the-base of the supporting strap 49, as in the precedingembodiment, so as -to leave the separate tabs 50k and 5l thereof loose,as 'shown in Fig. '7. The tabs -50 and 5I are then drawn back uponthemselves within the halves of. thepocket element 41, the tabs arestitched together and the stitching'is carried across the base thereofas indicated at 52, and the outer end of the supporting strap 49is'slipped through the slit E53-'as shown in Fig.- 8. In'thisV manner'ofi-fabrication, obviously, the stitching 48zwill been the outsideofthe pocket element 41, forming a seam thereon; ybut the supportingstrap 49 will be within the pocket element and only the end extendingtherefrom through the-slit 53. This is merely a variation in thepreceding form. Figs.. 9 and 10 show a still furthermethod offabrication of the pocket element ofthe invention. In thisembodimena'the pocket element is cutl'irom asinglelat piece 55, offabric, inthe formfi shown in Fig. 9, the cutting providinga generallysemicircular top portion 56- and a generally rectangular bottom-portionr51, a n0tch- 58 being provided so as-tovform a supporting strap` 53 anda generally radial edge 60 along the-top of the notch. The inner end ofthe edge 60, shown at 6I., is substantially at the center of thesemicircular top portion 56. 'I'he top portion l55 is also cutso as toprovide substantially straight edge portions 52 and63. Y l. v

In forming vthe pocket in the alternative shown Yin Figs9 and` 10theend.- of the radial edge 60 is drawn down tof approximately theposition shown by the ydotted line 64 and on suchline stitched to thebottom portion 51 ofthe piece 55, so asto form a conical pocket of thepiece' 55, but leaving the supporting strapv 59 loosely extendingtherefrom. The base of thesl'lDDQI't-i ing' strap obviously. .li esalongltheline ifand extends fromthe apex of thegenerallyconical pocketto its base. The edges of ther supporting strap 59 may, if desired, besuitably hemmed. As shown in Fig.` 10, the edge portion 62 forms a pointof connection for the strap encircling the body of the wearer, and theedge portion 63 forms a point of connection to a matching pocket to beconnected thereto. This embodiment of the invention, obviously, isextremely simple and economical to fabricate, requiring only a singlestitching along the line 54, and, in addition, avoids any stitchingwhatsoever along the upper portion of the pocket member, which addscomfort to the wearer. y.

Although, I have shown and described a preferred and several alternativeembodiments of the invention and the methods of fabrication thereof, itwill be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit ofthe invention. Consequently, I do not wish to be limited to the specicforms or methods of fabrication illustrated and described, but. desireto be aiorded the full scope of the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A bust support comprising: a pair of interconnected breast pocketelements, each consisting of a pair of components connected together toform the breast pocket to pyramidal shape; a strip connected to theouter edge of each of said pocket elements to pass around the body of awearer and tobe connected together at the back thereof; and shoulderstraps attached to said pocket elements and'to said strips, each of saidcomponents of a breast pocket element having an integral stripprojecting laterally and upwardly fromthe lower portion of the verticalmedian line of the breast pocket element, the two integral strips Aofeach breast pocket element being secured together in juxtaposition so asVto provide together a supporting strap of double thickness, thesupporting strap of each pocket element having a free end adapted forconnection near the place of attachment of the shoulderstrap of theother pocket element to said last named element so that said' supportingstraps cross :each other and each transmits a portion of the weight ofeach one of the breasts to the shoulder strap attached to the pocketelement for the other breast, the inner end. of each strap beingreinforced by at least one transverse line of stitching.

` 2. A bust support as defined in claim 1 in which each of saidcomponents is pentagonally shaped.

3. A bust support comprising: a pair of interconnected breast pocketelements, each having two 'portions of fabric joined by a seam extendingdownward from the central region of the pocket elements; a pair ofstrips connected to the outer side edges of said pocket elementsrespectivelyto pass around the body of the wearer for interconnection todraw said pocket elements inward -to the body; shoulder straps attachedto said pocket elements and said strips; and a supporting strap for eachof said pockets connected thereto in the region of said seam, saidsupporting strap being integral with at least one of said portions cffabric, each of said supporting straps having' a free end adapted forconnection near the place of attachment of the shoulder strap of theother pocket element to said last named element so that said supportingstraps extend lat- `eraIly and upward across each other and eachtransmits a portion of the weight of the correspending breast to theshoulder strap attached to the pocket element for the other breast.

' V4. A bust support as deined in claim 1 in which each of said breastpocket'elements consists of a pair of substantially pentagonally shapedcomponents having certain of their edges connected to provide a breastpocket of pyramidal shape. i

5. A bust support as deiined in claim 1 in which each of said supportingstraps from a breast pocket element has two layers of fabric integralrespectively with said two portions of the pocket.

6; A bust support as dened in claim 3 in which eachof said supportingstraps extends through a slit in the pocket its supports.

'LA bust support as defined in claim 6 in which the majorv portion ofeach of said supporting straps lies on the inner face of the pocketelement it supports and extends through said slit.

8. A bust support as defined in claim 3 in which said two portions ofeach pocket element are ntegral with each other above said seam of thepocket.

LOLA SPARE.

'REFERENCES CITED Ther following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS France Dec. 11,1943

